The EU is strongest when it acts as one in the world. The weakness or reluctance of one member state impacts us all, and especially the people living in the shadow of Hezbollah's destabilizing activities.
Marietje Schaake is a Dutch member of the European Parliament (D66/ALDE Group)
What is the most effective way to persuade people to end violence? This difficult question manifests itself in different ways on the European political agenda.
This week the Ministers of Foreign Affairs met in Brussels, with the EU’s position on Hezbollah up for discussion. This organization is active in Iran, Lebanon and Syria and is widely considered to be causing unrest in those countries.
As it turned out, ministers made no decision on whether Hezbollah’s violent arm should be added to the EU terror list.
This is a missed opportunity illustrative of the lack of consensus on EU’s foreign policy. While this fragmentation threatens to become vulnerability for the EU itself, it first and foremost impacts the people suffering from terrorism and violence.
They should be the reason we seek effective solutions.
At a time when unrest in the Middle East has created a historically fragile moment, the EU must take a more ambitious leadership-role in the world and improve and protect the rights of people globally, especially in its close neighbourhood.
At the very least it must make sure it is not in one way or another complacent about terrorist or criminal activities taking place on its own soil. We should also prevent terrorist groups from organizing themselves within the EU.
Signs of Hezbollah’s activities in Europe are plenty. German magazine Der Spiegel recently reported that drug trading is used to finance the terror groups’ activities.
The Netherlands and the United Kingdom have reacted by putting Hezbollah on their terror list. This means the European assets of the group as well as its affiliates and members can be frozen, and their access to the EU limited. For the British, blacklisting only applies to the military wing of the group, for the Dutch also the political branch is on the terror list.
In practice, distinctions between violent and political activity are not easy to make. It is therefore essential that Hezbollah stops its violent and criminal activities so that its political wing is above suspicion. If individual members are unable to use EU banks for financial transactions, they may jump the fence to the political side.
If it is beyond doubt that the violent activities are not legitimized by the EU indirectly, we give a strong signal that terror activities are not condoned.
Another concern that should prompt the EU to action is related to the Special Tribunal for Lebanon. A Hezbollah-affiliated newspaper recently published a list of people who were alleged to be witnesses.
The chilling effect that this message sends (no matter whether the names are actual witnesses or not) will likely hamper progress in the case.
While a formal listing would send a strong political message, it is no magical solution in and of itself.
Governments of European member states should investigate terrorist financing and activities on its soil. This can be done with or without EU sanctions.
However, the EU is strongest when it acts as one in the world. The weakness or reluctance of one member state impacts us all, and especially the people suffering from Hezbollah’s destabilizing activities.
55 Responses to “Time to put Hezbollah on EU terror list”
mick
Fanatics, eh?
‘And, as time passes, fewer and fewer Muslims believe that 9/11 was done by Arabs!
When asked about the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon, few among the Muslim publics surveyed believe these acts were carried out by groups of Arabs. The highest percentage who believe that Arabs were culpable for the 9/11 attacks is found in Lebanon, where 28% of Muslims believe this to be true, with roughly comparable numbers of Sunni (31%) and Shia (26%) agreeing on this point. A similar proportion of Israeli Muslims (27%) also say groups of Arabs conducted the attacks.’
Individual Muslims may seem OK but Islam itself is evil and disgusting. I advise reading the Koran, it’ll make your hair stand on end.
Newsbot9
Yes, of course you believe that, fanatic.
You’re trying to use a poll to prove a trend. A single data point. It’s downright pathetic. And why do you care anyway, given it suited your ideology?
And of course you have to support anything evil and disgusting, right, in your world. And I have, thanks, unlike you.
More, I’m aware of how it’s actually applied. Tip: Jews don’t execute people for male homosexuality either, despite that theoretically being the “correct” punishment.
Mick
That just proves you didn’t read the Muslim surveys link right at the top. Nor do you remember the Quillium Foundation report which found a shockingly thick seam of islamic totalitarianism running right through Muslim organisations such as mosques, the Muslim Police Association, Islam Channel, the MCB… allsorts.
I’ll leave you with a famous Pew figure: 75% of Muzzies across the Islamic World want death for apostasy. That includes honour crimes which ‘most’ Muslims are supposed to be against.
THOSE are your fanatics. Even PETER TATCHELL has smelled the coffee.
Newsbot9
Simply because Tatchell works for rights in one area doesn’t mean he’s necessarily any good in others. And yes, that famous lie. Even you should know better than to try that one again. You’re trying to be PC and stereotype as usual.
Again, given your views, and your endorsement of fanaticism, I also fail to see why you care! YOU are a fanatic right alongside them, totalitarian.
I’ll keep focusing on the Islamists and your far right, the actual dangers, thanks.
Mick
That 75% figure’s rightly infamous. 75% of Pakistanis believe that, or at least they told Pew that, and most of Muslims come from Pakistan. Google ACTJONESBOROAR APOSTASY THE DEATH PENALTY too.
Newsbot’s now hissing and spitting because Islamism has unsurprisingly poisoned the wells of Islam. Muslims scarcely have a chance and can still be good people DESPITE their religion than because of it. And I’m more than happy to provide Newsie with rolling evidence.
“I have been made victorious through terror” – Muhammad (Bukhari 4:52.220).